Bryan Braman the Bull

Texans linebacker Bryan Braman and his mother Tina Braman-Fields endured some difficult times before his NFL career. (Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle)

In today’s column, I shared some background info on one of the more interesting Texans, and a personal favorite, Bryan Braman.

Already a fan favorite, my guess is the more you learn about him, the more you’ll pull for his success.

From his poor upbringing, to his struggles after high school, to running around like a madman at Reliant Stadium on Sunday’s, Braman’s story is fascinating.

And I didn’t even write about how he fell into modeling for a bit, his stints as a bouncer (think “Roadhouse”), or how almost all of his teeth have fallen out or been replaced.) And I just found out that Braman played the first two days of training camp with no insoles in his cleats, because he was afraid to ask the equipment guys for them.

I’d love to hear more about Braman’s late grandfather, Ivan Cecil Braman, a World Ward II veteran and the family rock, who was 7-4, 460.

Braman might be the unlikeliest of Texans, considering where he came from and his route to the NFL. If you think sometimes athletes don’t appreciate what they have, you should read Braman’s story.

“When he was a young kid, we always knew that Bryan’s heart was going to be able to take him places,” his mother Tina Braman-Fields said. “He’s so genuine. Had that go-getter personality, knew that he would do good. And be worthwhile. He’s a big kid, and big-hearted, who would help anybody.”

Braman half-joked that he must have been born to be a Bull on Parade. Even with the last name, sans the “h.”

“Bryan has a genuine, sensitive spirit within him that rocks,” said Anthony “JuJu” Predisik, a counselor at Shadle Park High School in Spokane. “We’re just on the edge of seeing great things from him.”

Braman is as genuine and real an athlete as you’ll come by. A regular guy. Well, a regular guy who happens to have a world-class combination of size speed and strength.

One glance at the bodies in the Texans locker room and it is obvious that Braman is different.

Tackle Andrew Gardner, who is 6-6, is the only Texans taller than the 6-foot-5 Braman, and of the tall Texans (Matt Schaub, Brandon Brooks, Ryan Harris, Derek Newton and J.J. Watt are all 6-5 too), there is no question who is the better athlete.

Braman has been special athlete as far back as anyone can remember. Bigger, faster, stronger. Braman was a star at every sport he tried. Immediately.

A dogged competitor, Braman was always the leader of the pack. One day Braman looked at the javelin and said, “Well, I think I can throw that.”

Next thing you know, he was throwing it 200 feet and had posted the longest throw in the state of Washington that year. He won medals at the state track meet in the javelin, long jump and high jump, where his personal best is 6-11 ¾, and competed in the 400-meter relay.

“I don’t know if I ever gave anybody a chance really,” Braman said. “I like winning and I always wanted to show everybody I was bigger, faster, stronger.”

He played almost the entire season of his freshman year with three broken fingers and still dominated. At Shadle Park, which produced one other NFL player (Mark Rypien), Braman’s athletic feats were legendary.

In a game against Gonzaga Prep, Braman dominated the line of scrimmage with three sacks and two batted down passes, plus added a special treat with a rousing 78-yard kickoff return.

Jason Jaso, his coach at Long Beach Community College, says Braman, who had 17 tackles in a game, but also won the javelin at the state track meet, is a “decathlete in waiting.”

“There’s not anything that he can’t do on the football field,” Jaso said. “He’s the one guy you got that could probably play every position. I’m serious. Nobody can do that, but I wouldn’t bet against Bryan.”

Jaso told me how college scouts were stunned by a play in which Braman blindsided a quarterback, but instead of going for the kill shot, he deftly swiped the ball from the QB’s hand, like a statue of liberty play, and raced in for a touchdown. The quarterback followed through, not even knowing that Braman has taken the ball. No one had seen such a play.

While at LBCC, though he wasn’t a primary return man, Braman picked up a couple of punts and averaged 31 yards a return. Remember, the guy is 6-foot-5. He blocked eight kicks there too.

I know Gary Kubiak isn’t big on trick plays, but I can see the Texans pulling something sweet on a kick return with Braman one of the days, ala Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson in Super Bowl X.

Even his teammates marvel at Braman’s build, strength and speed.

“I like to think of myself as a good athlete with a nice build, but Braman, he’s on another level,” Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. “Man, he is fast, strong and has a lean body. He is special in what he does and there is nobody else like him on this team. He goes out there and puts his heart on the line.”

And appreciate all that he has gone through to make it to the NFL.

“We acknowledge that he’s a big, sturdy guy that can run like a horse, but I give him credit for overcoming the adversity that he faced in his personal life,” Connor Barwin said. “He could have given up on his dream of playing in the NFL but he didn’t.”